Understand

Religion

Flores is almost all Catholic and represents one of the "religious borders" created by the Catholic expansion in the Pacific and the spread of Islam from the west across Indonesia. In other places in Indonesia, such as in the Malukus and Sulawesi, the divide is more rigid and has been the source of bloody sectarian clashes.

Talk

There are many languages spoken on the island of Flores, all of them belonging to the Austronesian family. In the centre of the island in the districts of Ngada and Ende there is what is variously called the Central Flores Dialect Chain or the Central Flores Linkage. Within this area there are slight linguistic differences in almost every village. At least six separate languages are identifiable. These are from west to east: Ngadha, Nage, Keo, Ende, Lio and Palu'e, which is spoken on the island with the same name of the north coast of Flores. Locals would probably also add So'a and Bajawa to this list, which anthropologists have labeled dialects of Ngadha.

Portuguese traders and missionaries came to Flores in the 16th century, mainly to Larantuka and Sikka. Their influence is still discernible in Sikka's language and culture.

Get in

There are several airports in Flores, and the main one is at Maumere.

Get around

"Jeepnies" operate linking all the main towns. It is an incredible way to see the island and the driving ensures it is an exhilarating ride

See

The most famous tourist attraction in Flores is Kelimutu, a collection of three coloured lakes in the district of Ende. Changing colours on a regular basis, the latest colours (mid 2003) were said to be turquoise, green and red.

Do

Flores has good snorkeling and scuba diving in several locations along the north coast, most notably Maumere and Riung. Owing to the destructive practice of local fishermen using dynamite, and locals selling shells to tourists, however, the coral reefs are slowly being destroyed.